Northwestern District dad makes it home from Afghanistan for daughter's fifth-grade graduation

Friday

Jun 1, 2012 at 4:00 AM

By ABBY ARMBRUSTER Staff Writer

NORTHWESTERN DISTRICT -- Fifth-grade student Carrie Boak received the shock of a lifetime when her father, Lt. Col. Paul Boak, serving with Ohio National Guard in Afghanistan, made the trip from the Middle East to West Salem for his oldest daughter's graduation ceremony Thursday. "I still can't give this (diploma) to you (Carrie). Do you know why? Because your dad has to give it to you," fifth-grade Northwestern Elementary teacher Brian Smith said. Carrie ran across the gymnasium floor into her father's arms, with Paul handing the diploma directly to Carrie. Paul received a four-day pass from his military duties in order to attend Carrie's graduation. Paul has been deployed since June 2011, and was able to visit his family for Thanksgiving last year. "The thought never crossed my mind (to attend) until Tuesday when I knew for sure. What better way to do it than to surprise her?" Paul said. Northwestern Elementary orchestrated the fifth-grade graduation ceremony so Carrie would be the last student to receive her diploma. "It was a good, good expression," Smith said. "It was worth all of the trouble that (Paul) had to go through to get here from Afghanistan." "I was trying to hold back the emotions, to be honest with you," Paul said. "My daughter's grown so much and I'm so proud of her and all of my children in what they've accomplished with me being gone. ... Carrie is a very good student and she's going to go very far in her life." Candice Boak, Paul's wife, and Lindsay Boak, Paul's younger daughter, were in the audience during the reunion. Paul surprised his youngest child, a kindergartner nicknamed Buddy, after the graduation ceremony. Paul has to return to Fort Knox, Texas, on Sunday, but while home, he said he promised Buddy a trip to the movie theater to see "The Avengers," and Lindsay a trip to The Barn restaurant in Smithville. "Just reuniting and catching up over the past six months," Paul said. "I get to wrestle my son, play basketball with my daughter and baseball, and listen to my oldest daughter's stories." Smith said Carrie and he have more than the common student-teacher relationship because Smith and Paul served together in Kosovo in 2004 during Paul's first deployment. "I have two boys right now in Afghanistan. It's emotional for me. I think it's great to see this happen," Smith said. "She was totally shocked." Paul has served 30 years in the Ohio National Guard, with hopes of serving another five years before retiring. While the life of a soldier has become a normal pattern for Paul and his family, Paul said it will be nice to attend big events such as school graduations and birthdays. He said he has not been present for Buddy's birthday since his first one. Paul said his wife has been successful in playing both roles while Paul has been away. "Behind every soldier, airman, marine or sailor, there's always a good wife and that's what makes or breaks a soldier," he said. "I owe a lot of my success to my wife in being able to take care of my children, my house, everything when I'm gone." Overall, all three children were surprised with their father's arrival. "I want to thank the Northwestern School District and the army for allowing this to happen," Paul said. "I thank God that he was kept safe, and I'm looking forward to spending time with him," Candice said. Contact Abby Armbruster at 330-287-1632 or e-mail her at aarmbruster@the-daily-record.com. Follow her on Twitter @abbyarmbruster.